Gazing upon the Ferdinand Degen Stele, one might initially see just a stone. But this stele whispers tales of a man deeply intertwined with Vienna’s Ottakring district. The Ferdinand Degen Stele memorializes Ferdinand Degen, a prominent figure in Ottakring. He lived from 1830 to 1889. The inscription on the stele, dedicated by the Ottakring Beautification Association, praises Degen as a devoted friend of the forest and meadow. Degen was a dedicated community politician. He served as a member of the Ottakring community committee starting August 6, 1864. He later became a member of the municipal council on July 22, 1885. His most significant contribution was establishing Ottakring’s volunteer fire department. He even personally funded uniforms for twelve men to get the initiative off the ground. This act ultimately led to the municipality’s approval on May 21, 1869. The fire department found its home in an annex built next to School 16 on Ottakringer Straße 150. This location became known as the “Fire School”. The municipal council officially approved it on July 2, 1869. Degen’s dedication to Ottakring extended beyond the fire department. He was also an honorary member of the Beautification Association. This dedication is reflected in the stele’s inscription. After Degen’s death in 1889, Karl Kantner succeeded him as fire chief. The stele stands as a tribute to his lasting legacy. Degen’s wife, Anna, is buried alongside him. She died on April 2, 1907 and was laid to rest in Ottakringer Friedhof. The Ferdinand Degen Stele serves not just as a memorial. It also acts as a window into Ottakring’s history and the impactful contributions of one dedicated citizen.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to